New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-17
ARTISTS OPPOSE COMSTOCK:
DENOUNCING THE ARREST OF KNOEDLER.

THE AGENTS SOCIETY. HOWEVER, ASSUMES ALL
THE RESPONSIBILITY.
the reruIar semi annual meeting OF the Society OF
American Artists held at No 81 West renth-st on Tues
day night the following preamble anu resolutons "cro
unanimously adopted:
Wh,ras We learn that the officers and agents OF the
soeiy for suppression OF Vice of this city are inter
works of some OF the foremost living painters the
ground the sand works bad in their influence on
public morals and.
WIer as We believe that the study Of the nude 10
necessary the existence OF any serious art whatever
and that proper representation of the nude In art Is
ony innocent but is refining and snnoblng In Its IN
ercas We believe the capitalization OF such works
OF art by photography TO be OF the greatest educatsnal
Resoped That we protest against this action of the
socety for the suppression of Vice as the work OF NEE
If the highest forms Of art ard denonnce such action
subversve 10 the best Interests both " art anu VI
R,soce That is the sentiment Of this meeting tn at
the cause of art education in the United states states
be taken 10 restrain the agents OF the said society
from exceeding the limits of the field in which us "orA
Eesol5ed. That members Of the Society Of American
Artists resident in Now York DO invited to Sign theso
resolutions for presentation 70 the public
VIM. NJ. Chasr president, william sartain.
ii. Bolton Jones vice pres. Francis & Jones'
Hrn nm a. :V Wilss Trrasayer. W. M J. Rice
Augustus ST. Gauiens Walter ohiIidW,
Eastman johnson, Carleton Wggina
J. Alden Weir 7. W Dewing
Kenyon Cox, Frank Fowler
D. " Tryon. william :. Allen,
II siddens Mowbray Chas Melville Dewey,
Carroll BecKwith K. W Van Bsskcrck,
Bruce Crane, Francis Lathrop.
The Society for the Suppression of Vico have been
"worrod into making reply 10 the criticisms evoked
by of Messrs KDoedler aad Pfefcr and the
seizure OF photographs at Knoeder's gallery An eI-
planaory letter sent to the papers yesterday by
representative members IL. f. Simmons, chairman OF
the Executive Committee. iii note accompanying inc
letter said:
II the press or those acting critics of this society,
will SIMPLY ascertain the facts. they VIII ma
that in no Instance has this s9sey in'srered @.n
nze. Lonever. photograph which strips the original
81 an .s and lines OF beauty TO be work Of
art IN any SENSE
The following extracts gye the principal points from
the letter itself:
pictures upon whieh the arrest was made had been
passed. by the Executive Committee OF ms socey
after they had referred to the proper law officer
of county and after they hal been carefully In,
The pictures for tho sale OF which the dealer ar
reSte have been legally adJudicaied to be Indecent
oyer and Terlnner. the conviction there being
afhr ned unanimously bv tho Geuera Term and after
preyous 10 the arrest of this dealer we had copy
Of the law 70 be served upon his iirn lie had peen
warned TO the character in the eye OF the law OF tho
pictures he was selling aud member OF ths picture
dealing firm are informed. was In court AZ the
time these pictures were so adIudicatea 10 DC oo
scene 49,. ;,o,,,n., ,,., ,,. os,ho,. ,ursusd nv our
agent. Mr. Anthony Constock In the course OF making
tie and seizure. and We visa distinctly under
siood that heartily approve OF all that he has done,
and as society we are Wiling to taxa the entire respon
sh ty OF the whole We would also state that tho
pie ure The Birth of Venus was not the subject mat
Ter of this complaint
The letter was signed, for the society," by sannei
Colgate. presidents ii. E. Simmons, chairman Of the EK
eeu,iyc Com mi tee an ]. NJ Stevenson. secretary.
Tie Ere,y Tel gran, yesterday after tins letter was
ont appeared with it, first covered with out
line sketches OF nude figure pictures among them no
Birth of Venus by CabanelsaId by Ide Telegram 10 ia
reproductions of many possible or the pictures
scisei by Constock at Messrs knoelcr a Co.'S gallery.
Mr. Coinstock denied ths when shown the issue by "A
TEiB reporter and said that The Telegram evidently
wanted misleal the pablo. aud producing handful
of photo yraPhs. turned them over AMI remarked;
the Photographs seized. ard don't recognize
any OF them III The IcieCraH's sketches"
DO you purpose taking action with regard 10 ,hs
il ne of he Telegram "
"lts matter for the Grand Jury shall III District
Attorney Marines attention TO 1t tle hfst tang TO NOR
morning"